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20
Feb
‘Completely unacceptable’: Knaresborough councillor slams huge parking charge increase
A Knaresborough councillor has described as “completely unacceptable” plans for huge car parking tariff increases.
North Yorkshire Council unveiled proposals today (February 20) to hike on and off-street parking across the county to generate an extra £3.6 million a year.
You can read more here.
Motorists will pay more everywhere but parts of Knaresborough have been particularly hard hit.
The cost of an hour’s parking in Market Square will more than triple from 80p to £2.80. The tariff for two hours will go up from £1.50 to £4.40.
The car parks at Castle Yard, Chapel Street, Fisher Street, Waterside and York Place will also see significant uplifts. The current half hour charges and the proposed new tariffs (in yellow) are detailed below.
Councillor Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, said the timing and execution of the policy demonstrated a “total lack of understanding of Knaresborough’s unique economic needs” and “put the cart before the horse” by being announced before residents were consulted.
Cllr Walker said:
I am beyond disappointed. It is completely unacceptable that these changes are being forced through before any local consultation to shape our town investment plans is even finished.
How can the council claim to be listening to our vision for Knaresborough’s future while simultaneously making it more expensive for residents and visitors to actually set foot in the town centre? This top-down approach is symptomatic of the problems we see in North Yorkshire Council — it's tiresome, and it flies in the face of their claim to be a 'local-first' authority.
The council said it had spent £2.4 million on improving its car parks.
Conservative highways chief, Cllr Malcolm Taylor said:
The changes to parking charges are part of our vision for a unified system that is consistent for everyone.
In many cases, our rates are more affordable than privately managed car parks and are competitive with those set by neighbouring authorities.
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